In a recent discussion, Idris Elba mentioned that he no longer labels himself as a black actor because it limits his professional opportunities.
Idris Elba Refuses To Call Himself A Black Actor-‘Racism Is Very Real, Our Skin Is No More, Rant Over’
Elba spoke out on the issue of racism in the film industry, revealing that he is trying to remove the power from racism by no longer labeling himself based on his skin color, which he feels puts him in a restrictive box.
Idris added that his decision to become an actor was not due to the lack of inclusion in the industry, but because he thought it was an occupation he would excel in.
In his comments to Esquire, he said: “Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be. I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realised it put me in a box.
“We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.” He gave his opinion after Netflix released the trailer for Luther: The Fallen Sun, a movie starring Elba.
The intense trailer commences with Luther engaging in a scuffle with the other inmates, then escaping. Afterwards, upon his return to the city, he appears to be aiding a female in getting retribution on someone who did something awful to her child.
Despite his success in the industry, Elba made it clear that this had done nothing to address the concept of racism. His following comments confirmed as much: “Success has not negated racism for me.
“Asking me about racism is like asking me about how long I have been breathing.” The response on social media was mixed. While some resonated with what Elba had to say, others felt that the concept of race was being politicised.
One person wrote: “Thank you!! A Great actor is a great actor… why always include race with everything?” So there you have it folks. What did you think about this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
